Beginner Dogsled Camping Trips

"I tried to wait for the ‘high’ from our Wintergreen camping trip to wear off before writing this but it is simply not going away! When I asked my husband for a dogsledding trip, I was thinking that we would have fine dinners and hang by a fireplace. Well, we did – each night by our campfire! I also thought that I would be cozy at night and wake up in leisurely fashion. Well, I did – each morning at a gorgeous campsite! I pictured romance and excitement and this camping trip delivered all that and much more! It was gift I will never forget!" Julie M., SD

You'll travel by dogteam each day (with skiing & snowshoeing as optional campsite activities) and enjoy campfire chats with your guides and group each evening. You'll camp in our Himalayan Hotel sleeping tents (or try an "igloo"!), Siberian Chalet cooking tent, and our cozy Antarctic sleeping bags and strata-rest pads ("a toasty sleep at any temp!") We'll celebrate the trip with a festive final evening back at the lodge.

No experience or gear needed. Lots of learning & lots of fun! A "hands-on" experience during which you'll have a chance to try it all: harnessing & driving dogteams, setting camp, fire building, outdoor cookery, building snow shelters and more. Open to anyone in good fitness (singles, pairs, groups), including families with kids 8 and older. Rental clothing and boots available. These are the trips that launched Wintergreen back in 1987 and they've remained a favorite of guests and staff alike ever since.

Participant Profile:

Last year, half of these trips were booked by families, schools or clubs for their own private trip. Of the other guests, half were couples, 20% were pairs of friends or family members and 10% were singles. Ages ranged 8-76. About 20% had dogsledded before (generally on our lodge-to-lodge trips), about half had never been camping before (summer or winter) and a few had never been in snow before!

Group & Guides:

Each of our "Classics" is facilitated by 2 Wintergreen guides plus support staff . Each trip accommodates one or two groups of 6 persons each. If there are two groups, training sessions are presented jointly at the lodge but on the trail the groups and their guides travel and camp separately. Generally, three freight sleds are provided for each group of 6. These large sleds each accommodate two drivers, who stand side-by-side on the back of the sled. Participants drive the sleds while the guides ski along nearby to assist as needed.

DAY 6: Optional kennel care. "Bon voyage" breakfast buffet. Trip de-brief chat and "Mushers Graduation" event, kennel visit to bid your dogs adieu. Check-out mid to late morning (or earlier if your travel plans require). If you weren't able to visit Ely's International Wolf Center (www.wolf.org) or North American Bear Center (www.bear.org) during their winter hours (Fri/Sat 10-5) before your dogsled trip, we can sometimes arrange a special visit to the wolf viewing area or bear exhibits on your check-out day.

Wintergreen provides:

Freight sleds & dogteams

North Face Himalayan Hotel or other dome sleeping tents (for 1-3 people each)